Summary
Maurice "Rocket" Richard was nicknamed "Rocket" because of his speed. But he also had a rocket-like temper. With three games left in the season, Richard got into a stick-swinging fight with Hal Laycoe of Boston and he then punched linesman Cliff Thompson. NHL President Clarence Campbell suspended him for the rest of the season and the playoffs.
At the time, the Canadiens had a 2-point lead over the Red Wings. Two days after Campbell announced the suspension, he attended a game between the Canadiens and Red Wings at the Montreal Forum. The result was a riot that ended the game, broke out of the arena and lasted into the next day. Detroit won the game on forfeit and eventually slipped past Montreal to finish in first place for the seventh straight season, an NHL record.
Richard also lost his chance to lead the league in scoring. He was 2 points ahead of teammmate Bernie Geoffrion when suspended and then Geoffrion took over the lead. Richard and Geoffrion tied for the most goals at 38 and another Canadien, Bert Olmstead, led in assists.
In the semifinals, Detroit swept Toronto, while the Canadiens eliminated the Bruins in five games, setting up the second straight Stanley Cup final between the two teams, and the third in four years.
Detroit took the first two games at home and the Canadiens bounced right back by winning two in Montreal. Gordie Howe had the hat trick in Detroit's 5-1 win in Game 5 and Montreal evened the series again with a 6-3 victory. For the second year in a row, the Red Wings beat the Canadiens in Game 7.
Howe set two playoff records, with 12 points on 5 goals and 7 assists in the finals and a total of 20 points on 9 goals and 11 assists in the two playoff series.
